Advantage Business Media

For Immediate Release

Positive Outlook for R&D Funding
Despite Recession, Research & Development Continues Growth

ROCKAWAY, N.J. – Jan. 27, 2009 – The recently released 2009 Global R&D Funding Forecast shows that while the economic downturn has slowed growth, overall spending on research and development in the U.S. will increase to more than $383 billion this year. The annual report is a collaborative effort by the Battelle Memorial Institute and R&D Magazine. R&D Magazine started producing the reports in 1959.

The R&D Funding Forecast noted a few specific "hot technologies" that many organizations around the world are focusing on, including renewable energy sources, biotechnology, clean water, sustainable processes and low-cost transportation.

"One of the most remarkable findings in this year's report is that funding continued to grow in the U.S. and around the world despite the global economic situation," said Tim Studt, a co-author of the annual study for more than 20 years and editor-in-chief of R&D Magazine's sister publication Laboratory Equipment. "The continued growth in funding is encouraging because research and development is critical to the advance of science and technology, helping further scientific knowledge, improving the human condition, and resulting in new and innovative products."

The U.S. leads the world in funding, with Japan and China in a distant second and third place. China's 16 percent funding increase this year follows its trend of aggressive increases that often exceed 20 percent. The report lists China as an "up and coming R&D giant." The largest federal contributors of funding for research and development include NASA, the EPA and the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Energy.

Other co-authors of the report were Jules Duga, PhD, and Martin Grueber, both of whom are senior research scientists for the Ohio-based Battelle Memorial Institute, a private, nonprofit applied science and technology development company. The report was based on surveys of R&D Magazine's subscribers, along with data obtained from private and governmental organizations around the world, including Battelle, the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Economic Forum, Thomson Reuters and others. The full report is available at www.RDmag.com/pdf/2009GlobalFundingForecast.pdf.

About R&D Magazine
Since its founding as Industrial Research Magazine in 1959, R&D Magazine (www.RDmag.com) has served research scientists, engineers and technical staff at laboratories around the world. The magazine is also sponsor of the acclaimed R&D 100 Awards which has recognized global products of technological significance for more than 45 years. R&D Magazine is published by Advantage Business Media (www.advantagebusinessmedia.com) and has an audited circulation of more than 72,000 readers.


Contact:
Paul Livingstone, R&D Magazine
973-920-7032